Cigars only sold in b&m shops

[bmony]

True if a cigar is meant to be a B&M only cigar, the B&Ms that have online stores are not suppose to put them online. That being said if you don't have a B&M close that you can visit most will take orders over the phone. So with a little effort you can still get them. I think it's a great idea to support the B&Ms. Before long them and your back yard will be the only place you can smoke. If we can smoke anywhere.

To be clear, I was referring to regular production cigars and not LE's. If these cigars are mean't to bring customers into the store the taking phone orders is defeating said purpose. As far as internet sales, there are both large and small stores that have an online store, so in essence any b&m could have an online store presenece.

I know not everybody will agree with me on this but I guess I thought cigars were to be enjoyed by the consumer and limiting the ability to get to consumers ultimately doesn't meet that goal.

 

[BrandonP]

To be clear, I was referring to regular production cigars and not LE's. If these cigars are mean't to bring customers into the store the taking phone orders is defeating said purpose. As far as internet sales, there are both large and small stores that have an online store, so in essence any b&m could have an online store presenece.

You are correct in that any store could have an online presence but we still have the overhead that the large companies like JR don't have. So we will still have to charge more then places like JR/Holt's/Thompson which means we still don't get the business because it is still cheaper to go to them.

Thankfully we have support of great BOTL's like the guys here as well as the support of the manufacturers throwing us a bone here and there with the B&M only product.

 

[tx_tuff]

I'm not sure the reason for the practice is the same for ever manufacturer that has a B&M only cigar. But if the purpose is to buy said cigar from the B&Ms then even if it is over the phone that purpose is still being meet.

 

[bmony]

My final thought on the subject is that many other types of retail businesses have gone through changes in their business model with the advent of the internet: Movies, Music, book stores. Now it seems the cigar retail industry will have to as well.

 

[tmoney2007]

My final thought on the subject is that many other types of retail businesses have gone through changes in their business model with the advent of the internet: Movies, Music, book stores. Now it seems the cigar retail industry will have to as well.

Not if the cigar companies protect their MSRP. Price protection and B&M only smokes protect small B&M's even if they are sold via phone.

I think that it is going to be harder and harder for a B&M to survive if it doesn't have a lounge and provide something that online stores can't, but they aren't going to go away.

 

[Centro33]

This is exactly what to do. I work at a B&M and we have cigars that are not sold online. We tell customers that live a distance away if they want more just call.

Same goes for us.

 

[PanaceaNate]

most B&Ms we work with will gladly ship. We allow ordering from our site, but for retail. It makes no sense to sell to a local B&M then screw them by undercutting their margin, at least in our opinion.

 

[hank_612]

ditto!

At my store we collect cigars for troops and send off a care package to someone about once a month. If you are deployed PM me and I will put you in line for a care package. Friends and family of my regulars come first but I can always use more names.

I also will ship boxes to apo or wherever if anyone wants. No shipping charge but only as a service I dont want to do a lot of shipping. If you are trying to hunt something up PM me. If I dont have it I will give you the name of another store who does unless it is really rare LE.